Apple Announces CarPlay, Integrates iOS Into Vehicles

Driving while using your phone, whether it be to answer calls, reply text messages, or even check on Google Maps is not a good idea as it essentially takes your attention off the road which could lead to an accident.

Sure there are handsfree kits out there, but apart from being able to answer or end calls, but given that our smartphones are more than capable of doing more than just that, sometimes those solutions just aren’t enough. That is where Apple comes in with their recently announced CarPlay.

According to Apple, CarPlay has been designed to give drivers a “smarter, safer, and more fun way to use iPhone in the car”. Essentially it is a new in-car interface that will be seeing its debut in cars manufactured by Ferrari, Mercedes, and Volvo.

For those who feel that these cars might be out of their price range, Apple expects that companies such as BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and more to add their support in the near future.

Basically this isn’t iOS slapped into a vehicle’s interface. According to Apple, the system has been designed from the group up and will basically link your iPhone to your car. It will allow users to use voice navigation via Siri to command their phones to do things for them while they drive, such as reading out text messages, dictating replies, map directions, notifications, and so on.

There will also support for third-party apps such as Spotify and iHeartRadio. CarPlay can be activated via a button on the steering wheel, while the car’s touchscreen will pack very familiar-looking iOS icons for ease of us. CarPlay will be launched as an iOS update for iPhones with Lightning connectors, while CarPlay-compatible vehicles will be launched later in the year.